France 1553-B teston

Sincona sale 47, lot 1617

This specimen was lot 1617 in Sincona sale 47 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$360 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"FRANKREICH, Konigreich, Henri II. 1547-1559. Teston 1553 B, Rouen. Gutes sehr schön. Gut ausgeprägt. (kingdom of France, Henry II, 1547-59, teston of 1553, Rouen mint. Good very fine, Well struck.)"

This type was struck by the hammer at numerous mints 1551-62. A few were milled at the Paris mint.

Recorded mintage: 24,327, a scarce date.

Specification: 9.59 g, .899 fine silver, this specimen 9.48 g.

Catalog reference: Duplessy 983. Ciani 1266, Sb 4558.

Source:

• Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
• Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
• ^[1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 47, World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2018.

Link to:

• 1553-S douzain aux croissants
• 1553-A teston au moulin
• 1553-M teston
• 1553-C double henri d'or, Saint Lô mint
• Coins and currency dated 1553
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)